Diesels

What do you guys think of passenger car diesels making another stand here in the US. With gas approaching the "permanent" 2+ dollar range for some time to come, I know I am looking again.

A buddy at work just took delivery of a VW Jetta TDi. At first I had my doubts, especially sine he got the auto trans. After driving it, I was stunned. It didnt sound, smell or perform like any diesel I ever saw. It was quiet, low vibes, and very respectable off the line, even with the auto. On top of that, he gets close to 60+ MPG on a fuel that is 25 - 35 % cheaper.

I am afraid that the piss-poor attempt at diesels by Olds and Caddy in the eigthties has permanently damaged our perception of this credible approach to reducing fuel demand. It seems silly for all these companies to work on these Rube Goldberg devices called "hybrids" when already-validated technology exists today.

Just my 2 cents,

Oleh

 

Wouldn't it be nice if this nasty, low quality cut of the fuel spectum was less expensive than gasoline?

How in the world did diesel get more costly than gas? I'll never understand how that came to be so.

If diesel was 30% cheaper, as it is in Europe, I think folks would be more likely to consider it esp with the advances made in the vehicles you mention.

 

Actually, I believe diesel is more refined than standard gas.
And in Europe, Diesel isn't 30% less expensive ... gas is 30% more expensive! lol. How about 1.2 euros per liter for gas and 85c/L for diesel sound?
The reason diesel doesn't take off in the US is because there aren't any good diesel cars. Plain and simple. If Audi or BMW sold their V8 4L diesels, people would realize there are other manufacturers than Cummins and Caterpillar for diesel engines.

 

Over here in Germany the Diesel part is almost 50 percent. BMW and Audi are providing very strong and good sounding engines. Year by year the diesel engines getting more and more advanced by those companies so that those car becoming more and more desireable.

 

accutually the diesel fule in the US has a very high sulfer content, thus making them not polution freindly. esp in CA. europe and UAE have little to no sulfer. oddly though with our inferior diesel it's still more costly than gas. oh and diesel is not more refined than gas.